Afghanistan 'Most Dangerous' Country For Women

A gathering of recruits at a new Afghan women's association training center in Kabul in May.

Afghanistan is the world's most dangerous country for women, according to a new international poll of experts.

The study, by the Thomson-Reuters Foundation, says widespread violence, dismal health care, and poverty make Afghanistan the worst place for women.

The Democratic Republic of Congo and Pakistan were ranked second and third.

Experts said Pakistan had some of the highest rates of dowry murders, so-called honor killings, and child marriages.

The poll asked 213 experts from five continents to rank countries by overall perceptions of danger as well as access to health care, violence, cultural and religious discrimination, and human trafficking.

Afghanistan also ranks among the worst countries in the world for maternity deaths.

compiled from agency and media reports